The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Pair sentenced in Lorain murder
Mark Sanchez and Jasmine A. Schafer smiled at the gallery when they entered court Feb. 15 for sentencing for their part in a Lorain man’s murder, but those smiles later turned to tears. Sanchez, 26, and Schafer, 29, both of Lorain, were cooperating witnesses in the trial of Elliott Kirkland in the 2016 murder of Jimmie Holland, 39, at his Lorain apartment. Kirkland, 29, also of Lorain, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on aggravated murder. Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James L. Miraldi will sentence Kirkland on Feb. 22 on other charges connected to the murder. Another accomplice in the case, 38-year-old Latrice Thomas, was sentenced Feb. 8 to three years of community control on a single count of obstructing justice. Schafer declined to speak before Miraldi imposed an 11-year sentence. She pleaded guilty Oct. 15, 2018, to two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated burglary and a single count of burglary. Sanchez apologized for his involvement in the murder before he received his 14year sentence. “I didn’t know anything about what was going to happen,” he said. “I’m just sorry it happened and I’m sorry I was a part of it.” Both defendants wept at different points in their individual hearings. Sanchez was visibly upset as Miraldi listed the charges he pleaded guilty to, including aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and felonious assault. Schafer wept as Kevin Jackson, a victim advocate with the court, read a letter from Holland’s brother William Holland, who could not attend the hearing as he lives out of state. The letter, which was read as each defendant was sentenced, describes the impact the Holland’s death has had on the family and the pain William Holland felt as he was in town to visit his brother the week he was killed after not seeing him for several years. Miraldi opined on the case before sentencing saying that the entire case has been one that will “not be forgotten” by the court.